Atomizer



Patented Nov. 7, 1950 William A. Cotter, New York, N. Y., asSigimr to Cotter Manufacturing 00., Inc., New York,

Application February 4, 1948, Serial No. 6,165

7 Claims. 7 1

This invention relates to atomizers. More particularly it concerns atomizers for atomizing perfume, said atomizer being adapted to be carried in the pocket or in a hand bag without danger of leakage of the liquid therein.

An object of this invention is to provide an atomizer including a casing for containing liquid, an atomizing nozzle projecting from the casing, reciprocable means for atomizing liquid from said nozzle, a member pivotally mounted on the casing which is adapted when in one position, to seal said nozzle, and is further adapted, when in another position, to form means for actuating the reciprocable atomizing means.

A further object of this invention is to provide an atomizer. including a casing for containing liquid, an atomizing nozzle and an air nozzle projecting from the casing, an air pump connected to said air nozzle and including a reciprocable member having a portion thereof projecting from the casing, a member pivotally mounted on the projecting portion of the reciprocable member, saidpivoted member, when in one position, sealing theatomizing and air nozzles, resilient means on said reciprocable member for main- 5;

taining the pivoted member in its sealing position, said pivoted member being adapted when the casing to be atomized through the nozzle,

upon reciprocation of said reciprocable means, a spring within said casing for urging said reciprocable means to a predetermined position, a member pivotally mounted on said reciprocable member, said pivoted member when in one position, sealing said atomizing nozzle, and when in another position, forming means for moving said reciprocable member from said predeterminedposition along a predetermined path against the biasing action of said spring, said pivoted member being formed to provide stop means for limiting the movement of said reciprocable member along said path, and to determine the maximum compression of said spring.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a device of the character described, a casing for holding a liquid to be atomized, a plurality of adjacent nozzles projecting from saidcasing, including an atomizing nozzle, an air nozzle and a vent nozzle, reciprocable means on said casing including a portion projecting from an opening in said casing, for pumping air through the air nozzle to cause liquid to be atomized from the atomizing nozzle, a member pivotally mounted adjacent'one end thereofuon the projecting portion of said reciprocable member and having a resilient pad on the other end thereof, said pivoted member being normally disposed at right angles to the axis of said reciprocable member with the pad thereon sealing said nozzles, said pivoted member being adapted to be'moved from said sealing position to a position in alignment with said reciprocable member, and forming a handle for reciprocating said reciprocable member when in said position, a portion of said handle being adapted to move into said casing through said opening when said reciprocable member is reciprocated.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide an atomizer including in combination, a casing formed with aliquid holding chamber, a pair of nozzles projecting from said casing and communicating with said liquid holding chamber, an air chamber within said casing, an air nozzle projecting from one end of said air chamber and disposed adjacent one of said nozzles, a pump chamber within saidcasing communicating with another end of said air chamber, a plunger reciprocably mounted in said pump chamber, a spring in said pump chamber for normally urging said plunger to one position, said plunger comprising a pair of ears projecting outwardly of said casing, a member pivoted at one end thereof between the ears of said plunger, said pivoted member being provided at the other end thereof with resilient material for sealing said nozzles when said pivoted member is disposed at right angles to said plunger, said pivoted member being adapted to be swung aboutitspivotal axis to aposition in alignment with said plunger, said pivoted member being adapted when in said last mentioned position to be used as means for repeatedly moving said plunger to another position against the action of said spring, to pump air through said air chamber to said air nozzle, anda, spring pressed latch onsaid plunger adapted to engage portions of said pivoted member to maintain said member in its first or in its second mentioned position,

from t e bottom surface I to subs antia ly the The invention accordingly consists in the feal0 Fig. 1, with parts in dotted outline;

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 2. with a pivoted member thereon in an upright position;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 2, with the pivoted member in a vertical, depressed position.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 7 is a bottom View with parts in section, of the device shown in Fig. 2.

Referring now in detail'to the drawing, l0 designates an atomizer embodying the invention. The same comprises .a casing H, having an upstanding front surface 12, an upstanding back surface l3 parallel thereto, a pair of curved symmetrically disposed side surfaces I4. abottom surface l5, and a top surface 16 parallel thereto.

The casing H is formed with a vertically disposed cylindrical bore which constitutes a liquid holdingchamber 26.. extending from the bottom surface l5 towards the top surface IE. but terminating short thereof. The lower end of the chamber Ellis formed with a threaded surface 2| and an annular recess 22 of enlar ed diameter; A slotted flanged head screw cap 23 is screwed into the threaded portion of chamber 26 to close the same. An annular gasket 24 maybe disposedin the recess 22 in contact with the underside of the flan ed head of screw cap 23, to make the closure liquid tight. The casing II is formed with a pair of vertically disposed passages 25, 26, extendin from top sur ace It and which communicate with the nterior of chamber 26.

The casin ll is further formed with a verticall disposed narrow. cylindrical bore 36 extending from the top surface l6 towards the bottom surface l5. but terminating short thereof and forming an air chamber. The upper end of the bore 36 is formed with a portion 3! of enlar ed dimensions extending to the top surface IS. The casing is further formed with a vertically disposed cylindrical bore 32 exten ing upwardly dimen ion t an the ore 32, thus formin an annular'shoulde 34. The passage 33 extends to the top surface I6. v7

The lower end of the bore 32 is internally threaded for engaging a screw threaded closure cap 35. The cap 35 may be provided with recesses 35 on its outer surface, which are adapted to be engaged by a suitable wrench for tightening or loosening the cap. The wall separating the air chamber 36 and the bore 32 i formed with a transverse through opening 361-at the lower end thereof, to "establish communication between bore 32 and air chamber 36, for the purpose herein-.

after appearing.

,An elongated tube 46 is mounted within the liquid holding chamber 26, with the upper portion thereof force fitted in the passage 26 and provided with a nozzle end portion 4i projecting outwardly of thetop surface E6. The lower end of tube 40 extends towards the bottom surface I 5, but terminates short thereof. A short air vent tube 42 is force fitted into the passage 25 and has a nozzle end portion 43 projecting outwardly of top surface IS. A right angle turret'45 has a Vertical arm 46 thereof force fitted intothe portion 3| of air chamber 30. The horizontal arm of the turret is disposed in contact with the top surface l6 of the casing. The turret arm 46 is formed with a vertical hollow passage 48 which communicates with the air chamber 30, and from the upper end of which extends an angularly disposed passage 49 in the arm 41. A short tube 56 having an outer nozzle end 5| is force fitted into the passage 49, the nozzle end 5| being-disposed adjacent the nozzle end 4| of tube 46.

Means is provided to pump air from chamber 32 to air chamber 36 through opening36. I To this end a reciprocable air pump'is provided Within the chamber 32. The pump comprises a piston rod or plunger 55 of transverse rectangular cross section, slidably and non-rotatably mounted'in the complementary passage 33. At the lower end of piston rod 55, at the center thereof, is a projecting portion 56 on which is mounted a washer 51 normally disposed in contact with shoulder 34. Also mounted on portion 56'is a cup shaped piston 58 of synthetic rubber, rubberized fabric, leathen'or the like. The piston 58 is adapted to engage th'e'inner surfaces of pump chamber 32. A'washer' 59 is also threaded on the portion 56,

the piston 58 being disposed between washers 57 and 59. The outer end of the portion 56 may be upset, as shown in Fig. 2, to retain the washers in place. The rod 55 comprises a pair of parallel ears 60 extending from the upper end thereof and normally projecting outwardly of the top surface l6. The cars 60 comprise outer surfaces flush with the oute surfaces 0f the rod 55, thereby permitting the ears 60 to move inwardly into passage 33 upon depression of rod 55. The ears 60 are formed with aligned openings BI and rounded corners 62 on the forward upper edges thereof, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. The rod '55 is further formed with a central vertically disposed blind end .bore 6211 which extends to the top surface 63 of the rod. In the normal position of rod55, the top surface 63 is disposed slightly below the top surface l6 of the casing.

Means is provided for normally urging the piston 'rod 55 into its rest position, with the wash- 7 er 5'! engaging the shoulder 34. To this end there 0 is provided a spiral spring 65 which is mounted within the pump chamber 32, with the bottom convolution 66 thereof seated on the inner sur-' face of closure cap 35 The top convolution 61 of the spring bears against the washer 59. It is 5 apparent from a consideration of Fig. 2, that the spring 65 will normally urge the piston'rod 55 to its uppermost position.

Means is provided for sealing the nozzle portions 4|, 43 and 5|, when the atomizer is not in use. To this end there is provided a member 10 which is pivotally mounted on the ears 6|] of piston rod 55. The member 10 comprises a top wall 1|, a downwardly extending front wall 12, which in the normal position of the member 10, is substantially flush with the front surface I 2 of the casing. The member Hi further comprises side walls I3 which include symmetrically out- Wardly tapering forward portions 14 extending to front wall 12. Extending rearwardly on member I is a solid portion 15 of reduced width, which is accommodated between ears 60 of piston rod 55. The solid portion 15 is formed with a transverse opening 16 in which is fitted a pivot ,pin 71, the ends of which are journalled in openings 6| in ears 60. The solid portion 15 includes a vertically disposed back surface 18, from the lower end of which there extends a forwardly and upwardly inclined bottom surface 19, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. The side walls 13 of member 10 have their outer surfaces substantiall flush with the outer surfaces of the ears B0 on piston rod 55 as shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

The walls ll, 12, 13 and 14 form a hollow portion 80 on the undersurface of the member Ill. A resilient pad 8| of sponge synthetic rubber or other suitable sealing material, is positioned in the forward end of the hollow portion 89, being suitably secured to the inner surfaces of walls 1 I, 12. When the member 10 is in its normal nozzle covering position, the pad 8| is disposed in contacting relation with the nozzle ends 4|, 43 and thus effectively sealing the same, when the atomizer is not in use.

Means is also provided for resiliently maintaining said member in its nozzle covering position. To this end a spring pressed latch is slidably and resiliently mounted on the piston rod The latch comprises a stem 85 slidably received in recess 62a in the piston rod. The latch further comprises at the upper end of the stem '85, a flanged head 86 which is disposed under thesolid portion 15 of member 10, when member 10 is in its nozzle sealing position. A coil spring 87 is seated within the recess 62a, with its upper end bearing against the lower end of stem 85, thus urging the latch outwardly of the recess.

rected against the rear edge 88 of the member 10, it will tend to urge said member in a counterclockwise direction, looking at Fig. 2, to effectively seal the nozzle ends 4|, 43 and 5|.

To use the atomizer ID, the liquid chamber -may be conveniently filled with perfume or other liquid to be atomized by removing screw cap 23 and replacing same after filling. To atomize the liquid within the chamber 213, it is only necessary to fiip the member 10 upwardly about its pivotal axis toa vertical position as shown in Fig. 4. In this position, the member 10 forms an actuating means for operating the air pump, Upon pressing downwardly on the wall 12 of the member 10, the piston rOd 55 will be moved downwardly, thereb forcing air within chamber 32 to pass through passage 36, up through air chamber and outwardly through nozzle 5|. On releasing the member 10, the spring 65 will restore ber.

the rod to its normal upper position. On rapidly repeating the reciprocating movement of the piston rod 55, air will be blown across nozzle 4|, which willcause: liquid to rise in tube 40, and to be atomized therefrom, in a manner well known in the art. The vent tube 42 allows air to enter the liquid holding chamber 20, to replace the liquid removed therefrom by atomization.

When the member 10 is in its pump operating position, the latch head 86 will resiliently bear against the rear surface 18 on the member 10, to maintain said member in alignment with the rod 55. The rounded corners 62 on ears permits the shouldered edges of portion 15 to pass during the pivotal movement of member 10 from its sealing position to its pump actuating position or vice versa.

It will be apparent that the member 10 will be I urged into a position whereby pad 8| seals the nozzles 4|, 43, 5| by means of the spring pressed latch on the rod 55, while rod 55 is retained against upward movement by shoulder 34 and washer 51. However, the member 70 is readily moved to a position in alignment with rod 55 uncovering the nozzles and ready to actuate the rod, upon applying a slight upwardly directed pressure to the front wall 12 of the member. This causes edge 88 to move across flanged head 86 of the latch, depressingthe latch against the action of spring 81 until member 10 assumes a position in alignment with rod 55. After atomizing the liquid in required amounts, the member 10, is pressed downwardly by a slight pressure applied to the forward end of top wall II of the mem- The member will then move in a counterclockwise direction about pivot pin 11, depressing the latch until the edge 88 is disposed rearwardly of the axis of pivot pin 11, at which time, the latch will urge the member into its nozzle closing position.

The outwardly curved wall portions 14 on member 10 act as a stop for limiting the downward movement of the piston rod 55. As shown in Fig. 5; the lowermost position of the member 10 and the rod 55 attached thereto, is determined by the curved wall portions 74 which engage the upper edges of passage 33 and which prevent further movement of member 10 into passage 33. In this manner, the compressed limit of spring is fixed and undue compression thereof is avoided.

It will be apparent that spring 65 is in a normally uncompressed condition when the rod 55 is at rest. The spring is only compressed when the member Hi is swung into position for reciproeating the rod 55, and is actually depressed.

If for any reason, it is desired to remove, repair, or replace spring 65 or the piston rod 55, it is only necessary to unscrew closure cap 35 to gain access to pump chamber 32.

The slot on cap closure 23 allows the use of a coin or the like to effect its removal, incident to the refilling of liquid chamber 23.

The casing may be of'metal or plastic and may be formed with the various chamber and bores by metal working or molding operations suitable to the material of which the casing is made.

' It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in whichthe several objects of this invention are achievedand which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings, is .to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a .limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claimas new and desire to protect by Letters Patent oftheUnited States is: "1. An atomizer, comprising a casing, having'a covering said nozzle when in a horizontal position thereof, said pivoted member being swingable to a vertical position for movement into said passage and operative to directly actuate said reciprocable member.

2. An atomizer, comprising a casing formed with a liquid holding chamber, an atomizing nozzle projecting from said casing and in communi cation with said liquid holding chamber, means for atomizing liquid from said nozzle including a pump chamber, a plunger reciprocably mounted in said pump chamber, a member directly pivoted on said plunger, said member in a horizontal position covering said nozzle and adapted to be swung to a vertical position in alignment with said plunger for directly reciprocating said plunger, and a spring pressed slidable latch on said plunger for urging said pivoted member into its covering position while said plunger is at rest, said latch being depressed upon movement of said member to said second mentioned position.

"3. An atomizer, comprising in combination, a casing having a liquid chamber, a nozzle on said casing in communication with said chamber, an air pump in said casing for atomizing liquid from said nozzle including a reciprocable and nonrotatable member for operating said pump, a

member pivotally mounted on said reciprocable member for directly depressing said member when resilient means being further adapted to retain said pivoted member in said nozzle covering position.

4. An atomizer comprising a casing including a wall, said casing being formed with a liquid holding chamber and a pump chamber, an atomto its nozzle closing position, said'pivoted member being movable into alignment with said reciprocable member, said pivoted member in itslast mentioned position forming means for directly moving said reciprocable member to. said .depressed position within said pump "chamber wherein the end portion of said reciprocable member is disposed below said casing wall.

5. Atomizer means for a liquid holding chamber comprising a member forming a closure for said chamber, a nozzle on said member arranged for communication with the interior of said chamber, an air pump on said member for atomizing liquid from said nozzle, said pump including a reciprocable member for operating said pump, a member directly pivoted on said reciprocable member, said pivoted member being adapted to be pivoted to a vertical position'to provide'manually operable means for directly actuating said reciprocable member, said pivoted member in cluding nozzle sealing means and being further adapted to bepivoted to a horizontal position for engaging said nozzle sealing means with said nozzle, and resilient means for selectively'biasing said pivoted member toward said positions.

6. An atomizer comprising a casing having a chamber for holding liquid to be atomized, an atomizing nozzle projecting from said casing and communicating with said chamber, means for atomizing liquid from said nozzle including a member mounted for reciprocation on said casing and a member directly pivoted to said first mentioned member and provided with means for covering said nozzle in a horizontal position of said pivoted member, said pivoted'member being movable to a vertical position and providing manually operable means for directly reciprocating said first mentioned member.

7. An atomizer comprising a casing having a chamber for holding liquid to be atomized, an atomizing nozzle on said casing and communicating with said chamber, a pump in said casing including a reciprocable member for pumping air across said nozzle, a member directly pivoted'on said reciprocable member adapted when in a horizontal position to cover said nozzle, said pivoted iz ing nozzle on said casing and communicating with said liquid holding chamber, a reciprocable member in said pump chamber, resilient means in said pump chamber for moving said reciprocable member from a depressed position to an elevated position, said reciprocable member including an end portion projecting above said casing wall when said reciprocable member is in its elevated position, a member directly pivoted to the end portion of said reciprocable member for pivoted member for biasing said pivoted member member being further adapted when in a vertical position to provide manually operable means'for directly reciprocating said reciprocable member, said pivoted member including means for limiting the extent of movement of said reciprocable member in a downward direction.

WILLIAM A. COTTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of're'cord in th file of this patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Aug. 31, 1938 

